Kennedy Space Center: Atlantis exhibit to open June 29

Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel

The Kennedy Space Center Vistor Complex will unveil its exhibit that showcases the space shuttle Atlantis on June 29, it was announced Thursday.

The $100 million project is under construction around the orbiter, which has been lifted off the ground and placed at a 43-degree angle to simulate its position in space when leaving the International Space Station. Space center guests will see Atlantis' payload doors open and its robotic arm extended.

The 90,000-square-foot exhibit will include 60 interactive stations outlining the history of the space-shuttle program.

A logo for the attraction also was revealed Thursday. In it, an orange silhouette of the shuttle -- as seen from above -- forms the A in the word "Atlantis." The NASA logo (meatball style) is at the end of the word, with "Kennedy Space Center" below. The exhibit will be known simply as "Space Shuttle Atlantis."

“Although the multimillion-dollar interactive exhibit encompasses much, much more than the display of Atlantis, there is no denying, she is truly the star of the show,” said Bill Moore, chief operating officer of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

Also coming soon to the visitor complex will be an attraction called Angry Birds Space Encounter, based on the popular game and characters. The kid-friendly element is scheduled to open this spring.

For more information, go to <a href="http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com">www.kennedyspacecenter.com</a>.